Why Does Beta Alanine Make Me Tingle?

by Erick Avila

The first thing people notice after cracking open a can of C4 Energy is the delicious flavor and explosive energy. After a few sips, the next thing that some people might notice is a “tingling” sensation. If you regularly use C4 pre-workout, you’re probably already familiar with this. Many athletes consider this sensation as a signal that it’s “go time” before a workout.

Let’s go over what exactly causes that tingling sensation in C4 Energy

Why does C4 pre-workout make me “tingle”?

C4 contains the non-essential amino acid beta-alanine. Consumption of increased dosages of beta-alanine has consistently been shown to cause a harmless temporary tingling sensation (known as paresthesia) in some individuals.[1]

Beta-Alanine binds with certain proteins in the skin, which can cause this tingling experience to occur. [2,3] C4 uses CarnoSyn® beta-alanine exclusively, this form of beta-alanine is backed by years of scientific research and is the only patented beta-alanine on the market.

Is the C4 tingling sensation safe?

In a review of over 100 human studies, beta-alanine was found to be safe with paresthesia being the only reported side effect. The researchers concluded that no current evidence existed to indicate that paresthesia was harmful or considered an adverse event.[4] CarnoSyn® beta-alanine is self-affirmed GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) status. For an ingredient to be GRAS a general consensus amongst qualified experts must be made that based on the available data, the ingredient is safe under the conditions of intended use.

How long does the tingling from C4 pre-workout last?

The tingling sensation associated with beta-alanine usually occurs about 10-20 minutes after consumption of beta-alanine.[4] The sensation of paresthesia has generally been reported to last about 60-90 minutes.[1]

Can I stop the beta-alanine Itch?

Some tips to decrease the tingling sensation associated with beta-alanine supplementation include:

• Decreasing your dose: Taking smaller doses of beta-alanine may reduce the tingling sensation. You can lower the dose of beta-alanine you take and gradually increase it over time.
• Spread out the dose: Another strategy that some people do to lower the effects of the tingling sensation is splitting up their beta-alanine intake throughout the day. So, if you normally supplement with beta-alanine just once a day, you can split up this dose into two or three smaller servings during your day.
• Take with food: Some people consume their beta-alanine supplements with a food source and find that it helps them reduce the tingling sensation they experience.

Not everyone experiences the tingling sensation with beta-alanine supplementation. Also, it’s important to remember that this tingling sensation is harmless and a common side effect of beta-alanine supplementation.

What are the benefits of CarnoSyn® beta-alanine?

CarnoSyn® beta-alanine is designed to delay the onset of fatigue, resulting in improved power and performance.* CarnoSyn® beta-alanine improves muscular endurance and muscle capacity.

Which C4 Energy Drinks Contain Beta-Alanine?

You can find CarnoSyn® beta-alanine in C4 Energy Carbonated, C4 Energy Non-Carbonated, C4 Ultimate Carbonated, and C4 Ultimate Non-Carbonated

Final Word: C4 tingles mean it’s “GO Time”

Beta-alanine pairs with the essential amino acid histidine to form the dipeptide carnosine. Carnosine can act as a buffer when muscle cells become acidic, which may contribute to decreasing muscular fatigue. Many high performers, take the tingling sensation as a signal that it’s “GO Time”, before it’s time to conquer another goal.

Crack open a can of C4 Energy and feel the performance for yourself

References
[1] https://boris.unibe.ch/7647/1/Stellingwerff2012_Article_OptimizingHumanInVivoDosingAnd.pdf
[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3491570/
[3] https://jissn.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12970-015-0090-y
[4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6520041/